Klingenschmitt blasts gays, Maketa investigation moves, and more

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Republican House District 15 Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt's warning that letting kids stay in Boy Scouts puts them at risk of being molested by gay scout leaders drew condemnation across the state last week. His statement came in response to Boy Scouts lifting its ban on gays as leaders.

On his Internet TV show Pray in Jesus Name, Klingenschmitt said, "If your boy is in one of those organizations, you need to get him out of there. What they're going to do is promote homosexual men to mentoring and camping with your boys in the woods and it will lead to child abuse." He then cited a Bible verse saying of those who cause "little ones to sin": "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

One Colorado, an advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Coloradans and their families, issued a statement saying, "Gay adults are involved in scouting for the same reasons everyone else is, to serve youth, and to help them grow into good, strong citizens. These comments are reprehensible."

ProgressNow Colorado, an online progressive advocacy organization, called for Klingenschmitt to resign, as it did in March when he said an attack on a pregnant woman in Longmont was due to the "curse of God on America," and also last August when he likened Colorado Congressman Jared Polis to Christian-beheading Islamic radicals.

"Every day that goes by with Klingenschmitt continuing to serve as a Republican legislator, his hatred speaks for [Colorado Republicans]," said ProgressNow Colorado's Amy Runyon-Harms in a release. — PZ

Dems' leader moves on

Christy Le Lait, executive director of the El Paso County Democratic Party for six years, has stepped down. In an email to local Dems, County Chair Kathleen Ricker explained that Le Lait and her husband are moving to Florida to start "a new adventure in their life." Le Lait herself says that after 35 years in the Springs, she's ready for a change.

Ricker says the party plans to hire a new executive director by Sept. 6. — JAS

NAACP bomber pleads guilty

Thaddeus Murphy, 44, has pleaded guilty to damaging a building by means of fire and explosion and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Jan. 6, Murphy placed a pipe bomb outside a building at 603 S. El Paso St., site of the Colorado Springs chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Mr. G's Hair Design Studios. Murphy claimed he was targeting an accountant, though it's not clear whether the accountant ever had an office there. The incident drew national attention and was investigated with FBI help.

Murphy will be sentenced Nov. 3. He faces five to 20 years in federal prison for the arson, not more than 10 years in federal prison for firearm possession, and fines of not more than $500,000. — JAS

Maketa case bumped north

An investigation of former El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has been forwarded to the 18th Judicial District. It covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties and currently is prosecuting James Holmes in the Aurora theater shooting case.

It's unclear what crimes are at issue in the investigation. Some time ago, 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May said his office was "reviewing" information it's been given, but he didn't elaborate. The county has paid former employees settlements in employment discrimination cases, and others are pending.

Maketa remains a resident of El Paso County, though he owns a stake in a family construction company in Alaska. — PZ